Pape Gueye’s Senegal is gearing up for CAN 2023. The “Lions of Teranga” will defend their title by bringing a formidable team to Ivory Coast.
Since last Sunday, the Senegalese national team has been honing their skills in Diamniadio, located 30 km from the capital, Dakar. The “Lions of Teranga,” led by star player Sadio Mané and their recent triumph in Cameroon, are well aware of the high expectations surrounding them during this edition of the African Cup.
The team wasted no time getting down to business. Pape Gueye, who served a four-month suspension with Marseille. The FIFA had imposed a 4-month playing ban on Pape Gueye for reaching an agreement with Watford to join Olympique de Marseille in 2020. The Senegalese player is also required to pay a fine of 2.5 million euros to the English club. However, the initial recruitment ban imposed on Marseille has been lifted by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Gueye had to wait until November before returning to the field with his club.
Quickly returned to competitive action and was promptly called up by coach Aliou Cissé in a 27-player squad.
Pape Gueye’s Total Mastery
The Marseille midfielder showcased his technical prowess early on, leaving an indelible mark during training sessions. Behind the scenes, a new star emerged as Pape Gueye, the talented midfielder, captivated teammates and spectators alike in the latest session. His exceptional performance left everyone in awe, earning admiration from football enthusiasts.
From the kickoff, Gueye took command. Initiating play with palpable determination, he outplayed Abdoulaye Seck and immediately demanded the ball. What followed was a display of football magic. Served on his left foot, he controlled the ball with disarming elegance, feigning a brief run that left his opponent, Lamine Camara, dancing to a different tune.
Gueye’s artistry didn’t stop there. In another breathtaking sequence, the former Le Havre player positioned himself at the heart of the action, executing an effortless outside-of-the-foot pass. A true artist of the beautiful game.
Shifting to the left side, Gueye continued to dazzle. His oriented control sent Formose Mendy searching for the ball like a customer at the bakery, perfectly illustrating his technical mastery. When Ismaïl Jakobs attempted to challenge him for the ball, Gueye responded brilliantly. A masterful double touch brushed off Jakobs, allowing Gueye to distribute the ball to the opposite side of the field. A feast for the eyes and a demonstration of pure class.
Pape Gueye to Brighten a Diminished Midfield
Gueye’s outstanding performance comes as a welcome development for the Senegal national team, particularly in the midfield, where injuries have impacted key players like Pape Matar Sarr, Nampalys Mendy, and Idrissa Gana Gueye. These three players are expected to enter the CAN 2023 with varying degrees of fitness.
For Pape Matar Sarr, the situation seems less severe. The Senegalese player at Tottenham in the English Premier League reassured fans about his health after leaving the field due to an injury in a match against Bournemouth during the 20th round of the English league. On his X account, he stated, “More fear than harm, see you at the CAN,” accompanied by a photo celebrating his goal in the 9th minute.
Nampalys Mendy has also joined the team, and Aliou Cissé previously provided assurances about his condition, just as he did for Gana Gueye and Boulaye Dia. “We can recover Idrissa Gana Gueye by January 15, before the match against Gambia. I also know that Nampalys Mendy is two weeks away, and he has already started running. He can be at 100% before January 15. Boulaye Dia, we can also recover him; there’s no problem. Youssouf Sabaly has also resumed running. If they are on this list, it’s because they gave me their word. There is trust between me and my players. They have never lied to me. I have no doubt about that; they reassured me”, declared the coach during the announcement of the 27-player squad for CAN 2023.
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